President Calvin Coolidge’s 52nd Birthday Celebrated with Flowers from the Florist Telegraphers Association

July 4, 1924 

On this day, President Calvin Coolidge celebrated his 52nd birthday at the Whitehouse.

President Coolidge is the only American President born on the 4th of July.

He received a nearly 6-foot-tall floral arrangement from the Florist Telegraphers Association to mark the occasion.

The president was born in Plymouth, Vermont.

Newspapers pointed out that while he was turning 52, the country was turning 148.

One newspaper headline said, “Cal’s Cool and 52”.

The Wilkes-Barre Record reported:

The President made no unusual observance of his birthday but joined with the nation in the July Fourth celebration. He spoke [in the] morning before the National Education Association.

Later in the day, he planned to board the Presidential yacht (Mayflower) for a cruise down the Potomac.

There were no White House guests, although the two sons of the President and Mrs. Coolidge, John and Calvin, Jr, were at home.

E. T. Clark, private secretary to the president, said more than 46,000 cards and letters of congratulation had been received.

President Coolidge and his family suffered a personal tragedy three days after his birthday. His younger son and namesake, Calvin Jr., developed an infected blister. He died on July 7th from sepsis.

Despite his profound grief, the public voted him into office.  President Coolidge won a three-way race - with 2.5 million votes over his two opponents' combined totals.